‘Please don’t cry’: last words of brave father crushed trying to save his son

Soulmates: Pratik Pandya and wife Nikhila. He was fatally injured when he tried to stop the family car rolling away with his son inside

The widow of a father crushed to death by his car as he tried to stop it rolling away with his son inside paid tribute today to her “loving soulmate”.

Pratik Pandya was getting ready to go shopping with wife Nikhila and their son, seven, when the tragedy happened outside the family home in Isleworth.

Mr Pandya had returned to the house to collect something when he saw the VW Touran moving backwards down the drive. He ran out but got trapped between the driver’s door and a brick pillar at the end of a garden wall.

Paramedics took him to West Middlesex Hospital, but despite three operations he died of internal bleeding two days later on May 7 — a week after his son’s seventh birthday. Last month, an inquest at West London coroners’ court heard the car’s handbrake had slipped as the boy, who had removed his seatbelt, looked for some sweets. Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Pygott recorded a verdict of accidental death and said no one was to blame.

Mrs Pandya said she was trying to be strong for her son, who spoke at his father’s funeral. “When my husband was outside the operating theatre his last words were, ‘Please don’t cry,’ as he wanted me to remain tough for our son. That was it, after that he never regained consciousness.”

She described the computer science engineer, 48, as a “fantastic father” and “very intelligent with a love for science and useless information ... I don’t think I ever had to pick up an encyclopaedia, he had so much knowledge. He was my guru, an extremely loving person. He’d come straight home from work and never miss an opportunity to spend time with our son. We were shadows of each other: he was my soulmate. I don’t know how to contemplate life without him. I’m living every day as it comes.”

Mrs Pandya said she believed her husband’s life could have been saved had he arrived at hospital sooner and been operated on immediately. She added: “He loved our NHS,but I was very disappointed with how he was treated. I’ve lost faith in the system.”

London Ambulance Service said: “We would like to offer our condolences. The time spent on scene was extended because of the need to move him carefully. The coroner found staff did their best to save Mr Pandya.” West Middlesex Hospital said: “The inquest verdict reflects the sad circumstances and that everything possible was done for Mr Pandya. We offer our condolences.”